Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, the blood-red magma column, carrying a scorching flow, burst out from the final seal, then fiercely collided with the apex of the Heavenly Flame Tower. “Boom!” A low, thunderous roar suddenly boomed in everyone’s ears, and in this collision akin to meteors colliding, Xiao Yan and the others could clearly feel that the entire Heavenly Flame Tower trembled violently.
With slightly pale faces, they gazed at the fiery magma erupting from the deep hole. Even with the energy barrier’s isolation, they could still faintly sense the searing heat. The blood-red magma column heavily struck the apex of the Heavenly Flame Tower, yet it did not shatter under the fierce momentum. In the instant of the collision, a thin, dark-colored energy shield appeared over the pitch-black apex. Though it seemed frail, barely thicker than a finger, it was this thin layer of dark energy that resisted the ferocious magma column!
The attack failed, and countless fragments of rock shot out from the magma, splashing onto the surrounding energy barrier. Upon contact, the fragments were instantly pulverized by the violent energy on the barrier. After the failure, the blood-red magma column did not dissipate but merely sank a few dozen meters. The surface of the blood-red magma continually surged with waves of heat. After a moment, the waves swelled, and an enormous, transparent fire python slowly emerged, its massive and grotesque head appearing from the flames.
“What… What is this thing?” Staring at the invisible fire python, which had only revealed its huge head and part of its body, even Lin Xiu Ya and the others, known for their composure, could not help but exclaim in shock. Fixated on the writhing, invisible fire python in the magma, Xiao Yan’s throat rolled slightly. This was the first time he had seen such a colossal snake up close, and he also sensed that this invisible fire python in the magma column must be the mysterious entity he had seen hidden at the bottom of the deep hole when he first entered the Heavenly Flame Tower—the true form of the Falling Heart Flame!
“I didn’t expect the Falling Heart Flame to have evolved to this extent. It now almost resembles a regular magical beast,” the extremely astonished voice of the Pharmacist Elder suddenly rang out, indicating that the sight of the invisible fire python had also deeply shocked him.
Xiao Yan nodded in inner awe. From an invisible flame, after countless years of accumulation and condensation, it had evolved into this form. The wonders of nature were indeed astounding. “Teacher, what do we do now? This thing is so terrifying; can we catch it directly?” Xiao Yan asked hurriedly in his mind.
“Catch it directly? I might have tried in my prime, but now, we should wait quietly for the Inner Academy’s actions,” the Pharmacist Elder replied with a scoff to Xiao Yan’s question.
Xiao Yan laughed awkwardly and nodded. The massive head extending from the magma column seemed to sense the tiny creatures like ants nearby. Its completely white, triangular pupils glanced at them, and under that gaze, even Zi Yan, with her usual fearlessness, stepped back slightly, let alone the others who paled in terror.
The invisible fire python, indifferent to the group of people as insignificant as ants, glanced casually at them before withdrawing its gaze. It raised its head, staring intently at the ink-black apex of the tower, where a black, curtain-like energy was slowly rotating. Despite its seemingly weak defense, it possessed an extremely terrifying resistance.
“Chirp!” Suddenly, the invisible fire python emitted an extremely sharp screech. An invisible sound wave immediately spread out, heavily striking the surrounding energy barrier, causing intense ripples.
Watching the rapidly oscillating energy ripples, Xiao Yan couldn’t help but swallow. The destruction caused by this casual screech was far more potent than his Lion-Tiger Gold-Breaking Roar.
As the sharp screech faded, the invisible fire python opened its giant mouth, and a massive, invisible flame surged out! Even with the energy barrier’s separation, Xiao Yan and the others felt the temperature rise sharply. They had to envelop themselves in Dou Qi to feel somewhat better.
The invisible flame rushed toward the dark energy membrane at the end of the energy barrier, causing space to twist in varying degrees along the way. Such a temperature that could warp space would incinerate a human being to ashes in an instant if it touched them.
The invisible flame’s emission was not fast, and it took about thirty seconds before it made contact with the dark energy membrane, bringing with it an intensely high temperature. The two did not produce the previous loud explosion but instead made sizzling sounds like boiling oil hitting ice, continuously emitting smoke.
Though the dark energy membrane was thin, its defensive power was astonishingly strong. Despite the invisible flame’s scorching, it remained firm. Seeing this, the invisible fire python screeched again, and flames erupted from its mouth with apparent ease, spewing out one after another.
Despite its formidable strength, the dark energy membrane could not endure the continuous burning. As time passed, the membrane became increasingly thin and insubstantial under the watchful eyes of Xiao Yan and the others.
Seeing the weakening dark energy membrane, the invisible fire python screeched once more, but this time, Xiao Yan and the others could detect a hint of joy in the sound. Subsequently, the python redoubled its efforts, spewing out the terrifying invisible flames with greater intensity.
The unrelenting burning further weakened the dark energy membrane. After about five minutes, the membrane was nearly transparent, clearly on the brink of collapse.
“This Falling Heart Flame is truly terrifying. Even the seal of the Heavenly Flame Tower cannot contain it. It seems breaking through the seal is only a matter of time,” Xiao Yan muttered inwardly, watching the nearly vanishing energy membrane.
“Young ones, why are you still here?” Just as Xiao Yan and the others were awestruck, several figures suddenly darted out from the corridor. The one leading was none other than Su Qian. Seeing Xiao Yan and the others still lingering, he shouted, “The seal of the Heavenly Flame Tower is about to break. This thing has somehow managed to amplify its energy.”
Hearing the shout, Xiao Yan and the others snapped out of their daze, looking at the figures. These were clearly elders of the Inner Academy. They cautiously nodded, planning to retreat, but noticed that after the shout, Su Qian quickly shifted his gaze from them to the dark energy membrane, which was becoming increasingly thin under the burning of the invisible fire python.
“Damn it, the seal of the Heavenly Flame Tower is about to break. This thing has found a way to increase its energy,” Su Qian exclaimed, his face filled with shock.
“Grand Elder, what do we do now?” an elder urgently asked, knowing that if the Falling Heart Flame broke through, the consequences would be dire.
Su Qian’s expression fluctuated, and after a moment, he waved his hand, shouting, “All elders, follow me now. The seal of the Heavenly Flame Tower cannot hold much longer. We must use the formation left by the former Chancellor to try to reseal it!”
Without pausing, Su Qian flashed and dashed toward the exit of the Heavenly Flame Tower. Passing by Xiao Yan and the others, he roared, “Aren’t you leaving? Get out and stay far away, and don’t let anyone come near!”
Xiao Yan and the others recoiled, ready to move, and in a flash, numerous figures bolted out, turning into streaks of shadow, sprinting out of the Heavenly Flame Tower. Startled by the speed of the elders, they hastily rushed out as well.
As Xiao Yan neared the exit, he cast one last glance, drawing a sharp breath. The dark energy membrane, under the relentless burning, had become dim.
“It seems the Heavenly Flame Tower can no longer contain the Falling Heart Flame… It’s up to the elders now. I hope they can give me a chance,” Xiao Yan thought, then without hesitation, he dashed out of the Heavenly Flame Tower.
Outside, the blinding sunlight forced Xiao Yan to squint. He looked around, finding the usually crowded area now empty. Gazing into the distance, he spotted scattered figures far away.
Darting to a small hill, Xiao Yan suddenly looked up, surprised to see nearly twenty figures suspended in the sky, their colorful Dou Qi wings fluttering, appearing vivid. Their positions in the sky, though seemingly random, seemed to have a peculiar pattern. At the center of these figures was the Heavenly Flame Tower!
A faint, multicolored energy enveloped the nearly twenty figures, and threads of nearly invisible energy silently spread. As the formation in the sky took shape, Xiao Yan’s heart leaped, and the Qing Lian Earth Heart Flame in his veins released a slightly searing heat.
“It’s going to break…” Xiao Yan muttered, sensing something.
As soon as the words left his mouth, a earth-shattering boom echoed through the sky. The sturdy apex of the Heavenly Flame Tower exploded, and the scorching magma column erupted, spewing out under the terrified gazes of the distant spectators!
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